NYN | News
General Frank McKenzie, the former commander of U.S. Central Command, stated that the Sana’a forces have achieved victory over the United States and the Biden administration in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb.
In a report by Middle East Eye, General McKenzie was quoted as saying, “The Houthis defeated the Biden administration because it lacks the political will to use actual force against them.” He added, “The Houthis have won, and we have failed. They now control Bab al-Mandeb.” He further commented, “Sooner or later, they may get lucky and succeed in targeting and killing U.S. service members.”
In a related context, the Fifth Fleet Commander and the head of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, Admiral George Wikoff, stated in August that the decision to halt attacks in the Red Sea lies with the Sana’a forces, noting that “applying traditional deterrence policy in this scenario is challenging.”
Wikoff added, in remarks monitored by Yemen Eco, that the optimal solution for dealing with the situation is “diplomatic,” stating that this approach would “avoid concerns over having to defend ships passing through the area.” He explained that it is challenging to “identify a central point of strength for Sana’a forces that could be used as a potential deterrent point,” and mentioned that current efforts are aimed at “preserving some decision-making flexibility for command.”
Wikoff also pointed out that “the Houthi arsenal has grown stronger than it was a decade ago,” making the U.S. mission in the Red Sea increasingly difficult. He concluded, “The Houthis’ capabilities have evolved far beyond previous expectations, altering the methods needed to address them.”
